
South Korean bakery giant SPC Group has confirmed plans to build its largest overseas production plant in the United States, a $160 million investment to accelerate the expansion of its flagship brand, Paris Baguette, across the Americas.
According to the group Monday, it has acquired a 150,000-square-meter site for a facility in Highpoint Business Park in Burleson, Texas, to serve as a production hub for Paris Baguette stores in North America and future markets in Central and South America.
Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion targeted for the second half of 2027, a company official said.
While SPC Group plans to invest $160 million in constructing the bakery plant, Johnson County and the City of Burleson have agreed to provide $10 million in subsidies and the State of Texas will offer tax benefits for equipment purchases. Altogether, these incentives will provide up to $14 million in support.
The facility will be SPC Group’s largest overseas plant, surpassing its 20,800-square-meter bakery in Tianjin, China, and its 16,500-square-meter halal-certified factory in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The US plant is projected to generate around 450 jobs, placing it among the top five employers in Burleson.
Positioned as a critical supply chain hub for the American market, the US facility’s capacity will scale with Paris Baguette's growth, aiming for a production output of 500 million products annually by 2030.
Currently with 210 stores across North America, the brand plans to open 100 new outlets this year and expand from 29 states to 35. By 2030, it aims to reach 1,000 stores.
The Texas plant will also serve as a training facility for local shop owners and provide a strategic base for SPC Samlip, one of the group’s affiliates, to enhance its response to the North American market, where its K-food confectionery exports have gained traction.
"Establishing a local plant in the US will be a pivotal turning point for our expansion into the US, as well as North and Central America," said SPC Group President Hur Jin-soo. "We will continue striving to promote K-food in the global market while accelerating our global business localization strategy."
In January, SPC Group Chairman Hur Young-in, along with the group’s president, met with local political and government officials in the US to discuss economic cooperation and investment plans. The chairman also held private meetings with the company's American executives to finalize details on the bakery plant investment, according to the company official.
By No Kyung-min (minmin@heraldcorp.com)